By Mikia Kalati
MASERU — Linare coach Freese Ntene insists his on-form side can still cause an upset and wrestle the league championship away from favourites Bantu and defending champions Lioli.
Ntene was speaking to the Lesotho Times ahead of his team’s league match against Tse Nala, as Lioli are affectionately known, this coming Sunday.
Linare remain the only side to have beaten log-leaders Bantu this season after defeating the Mafeteng-based side 3-2 in the LNIG Top 8 quarterfinal earlier this year.
“What I can tell you is that the two upcoming matches against Lioli and Bantu respectively are very important to us and can influence the destination of the league title,” Ntene said.
“We already have a plan to win them, but we are going to use a different approach
for both.
“Of course, Bantu are favourites for the league title, but the upcoming matches, as I have said, can have a big say in the destination of the championship.”
The former Mpharane Celtic coach said morale is high among his players, adding everyone at the club would like to see the club end the long drought that has seen Linare go for over three decades without a league trophy.
“We are enjoying a great run of good results, but it comes with a lot of hard work and planning,” said Ntene.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Ntene has also boosted the confidence of star-winger Lebajoa Mosehlanyane, who has scored in almost every game since the start of the second round on February 2.
The former youth international played under Ntene at Mpharane Celtic before joining Linare at the start of the 2013/14.
